Apparatus for drying lumber



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

A. THALHBIMR. APPARATUS FOR DRYING LUMBER. No; 268,839. Il PgLpented Deel2, 1882,

JMQ.

7(N0 MOdel.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A.. THALHEIMR. APPARATUS PORDRYING LUMBER.

Pjlented Deo. 12, 1882.

Bow/MQ@ UNITED STATES PATENT (herrena o ALBERT THALHEIMR, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING. LUMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming -part of Letters Patent No. 268,839dated December 12, 1882,

Y Application filed July 22, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT THALHEIMR, of the city of Reading, county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for .Lumber-Drying., of which vthe following is a specification.

The improvement relates more particularly to thedrying of thin lumber or veneers and the means adopted to retain the same in a straight and unwarped condition.

Referring to the drawings herewith,t'orming a part of this specification, and in which similarparts are marked by letters of corresponding gures, Figure l, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation ot' the housings, rolls, steam-pipes, and a partial View of the yoke for retaining Fthe pipes in place. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a plan of the housings, rolls,foundation-plate, gearing, driving-shaft and pulley, steam-pipes, and yokes. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, represents a side elevation showing the actuatinggear. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is alongitudinal sectional elevation of one of the upper rolls with gear attached and steam-pipe adjusted to blow steam in 'the same. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal sec'- tional elevation of one ofthe lower rolls, showing a gas-pipe and gas-burners arranged in the interior of the same, in all of which- Afrepresents the foundation-plate; B, the twin housings; C, the caps; D, the bearingi boxes for thelower rolls; E, the boxes for the upperrolls. Frepresents the rolls; G,theroll heads; G', the necks orjournals'; G2, stuffingbox glands; G3,wastesteam discharge; G4;

scoop for discharging condensed water. HH are spur-gears on the outer necks ofthe rolls. J is a spur driving-pinion' in gear with the wheels. J' is a shat't for the same, mounted in bearings J2 in the housings. J3 is a band-pulley for giving motion to the gears and rolls. K K are steam or gas pipes. L is a yoke so arranged with relation to the steam and gas pipes that set-bolts L L shall retain the pipes in place within the necks of the rolls. M M are strong spiral or equivalent springs, placed upon the tops ofthe upper-roll bearing-boxes. M are caps over the springs, and M2 are housing-screws for compressing the springs by screwing down upon the caps M. N represents brackets attached to the housing for the `be cast complete.

purpose ot' carrying the gas-pipe, which passes from side to side through the rolls.

There has been considerable ingenuity displayed andllarge amounts ot' money spent in drying-kilns and presses for the purpose of drying, seasoning, and keeping straight and un- The construction of the apparatus is as fol- I lows: Twin housings similar to the drawings are iinished between the jambs to receive bearing-boxes D E, thelowerboxes, D, being halfboxes, while the upper, E, are twholeboxes.

Both are bored to tit the journals or necks of Y n the rolls F. The upper boxes, E, may be supported from or poised upon steelyards, as is com mon in rolling-mills, or they may rest u'pon lugs or pins in the housing-jambs, so arranged as to let the upper roll down within the minimum distance it is intended to come to the lower roll. The housings are preferably cast double, or twinned, as shown, as giving more stability to the apparatus. The foundations are lcast either complete for each pair or lengthenedout to receive as many couples as it is desired to use for the purpose of drying. The rolls are preferably builtup, although they may I prefer to make them, as shown, with cast-iron heads and necks, and rivetingto the same the shells forming the body of the roll. The shells may be of wrought-iron or copper. At one side ofthe housings, anden the projected necks of the upper rollers, I place suitable spur-gearing. Intermediate to the rolls, and above the line ot' their centers, so

as to permit their adjustment, I place a spurpinion and band-pulley shaft, having bearings in a box forming part of the twin housing, the Vpinion being in gear with the wheels onthe roll-necks and the band-pulley suitably connected with a revolving shaft. On the side of the housing opposite to the gearing I have roo the necks of the rolls counterbored to receive a stuffing-box gland, through which I pass a` steam-deliverypipe,makingthepassagesteamtight by packing in the usual manner. This pipe may be connected with both sets of rolls, (top and bottom,) the connection with the main or boiler being at such distance from the center of the rolls as will admit of the necessary vertical movement of the top rolls without disturbing the connection. To give stability, I carry the main down to the ioor, as shown, securing the end in afoot; and to preventthe steam (by reaction) driving the connection out ofthe roll-necks, I place a yoke over the oenter of the horizontal pipes, and by means of set-screws therein brought in contact with the elbow and to retain the same in place. The rolls,when steam-heated, have solid disk-heads, except when bored foringress and egress of the steam, while the heads of the rolls which are gasheated are provided with openings between the rim and journals for the admission of air to support'the combustion of gas at the burners.

For moderately green lumber I uselive steam in all of the rolls, and for very green 1 replace the steam with gas; or I may use a combination of both steam and gas to produce the desired result. For drying moderately1 green lumber, one set of housings and rolls running at a slow speed will be ample; and if it is desired to have the drying proceed more rapidly additional sets ofthe housings and rolls areput in the train. The lumber may then be passed through at a greaterspeed. In thisway, hav- 'ing a sufficient number of rolls cn train, the

lumber may be received direct from the saw at the mill, and be delivered from the train perfectly seasoned and in a workman-like condition. The lumber while passing through the rolls has a certain compressive strain put upon it through the medium of the screws M2, and the steam passing into the rolls, or the gas burning therein, an intense drying-heat is obtained, which evaporates the watery particles eXuded by the pressure, at same time thors oughly heating the lumber, which being firmlyv n held while this process is being performed, it

results in producing an unexceptionablyneconditioned article ot' lumber.

I am well aware that hollow rolls,steam and gas heated, have been long known and used for di-yingof paper and in the manufacture of wadding, &c., and I do not. therefore broadly claim the same; but I believe myself to be the rst to use the same in the manner described for the purpose of preparing lumber, particularly thin lumber and veneers, for immediate use in industrial operations.

Havingshown the construction of my dry- 6o ing apparatus and described its application,I desire to secure by Letters Patent the following claims:

l. A lumber-drying apparatus composed of the following elements: foundation-plate A, 65 twin housings B, caps C, bearings I), E, and J2, hollow rolls F, provided with heads G, necks or journals G. glands G2, waste-passages G3, discharge-scoop G4, spur-gears H H, pinion 4 J, shaft J', band-pulley J3, springs M, spring- 7o caps M, and housing-screws M2, steam and gas pipes K, yokes L, set-screws L L, and brackets N, all combined, arranged, and adapted Vto be operated in the manner and for the purpose -set forth.

2. The twin housings B, provided with bearings D, E, and J2, with caps C, springs M, A spring-caps M', and housing-screws M2, in combination with hollow drying-rolls F, steam or gas pipes K, yokes L, gearing H H J, pulley 8o J3, shalt J2, and foundation-plate A, substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

3. The hollow rolls F, provided with imperforate disk-heads G, having counterbored or l perforated necks G, stuffing-box glands G2, 85 and gear-wheels H H, in combination with pinion J, shaft J, pulley J3, twin housings B, bearings I) E, steam-pipe K, yokes L, screws L L', and scoop G4, when arranged as shownJ and adapted to be used for the drying, coui- 9o pressing, and straightening of lumber, substanti-ally as described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The hollow rolls F, as described, provided with pert'orate disk-heads G, in combination 95 with twin housings B, bearings D, gas-pipe K, and the brackets N, adapted by the perforation of the gas-pipe within the rolls and the ignition of the gas to heat the upper portion of the shell of the roller vin immediate contact roe with the lumber passing through the rolls, whereby the drying process is hasteued,as described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in a roller or train dry- [o5 ing apparatus, as described, of both steam and gas-flame heated rolls in pairs or as alternates, for the purpose set forth, and substantially as specified.

ALBERT THALHEIMR.

Witnesses:

WlLLIAM L. GRAUL, J os. FLEISHMAN. 

